As Bromley FC’s debut League Two season comes to an end the focus already turns to building for 2025/26.

It will be all about avoiding that that ‘difficult second season’ and consolidating the club in the EFL with half an eye on a play off challenge, building on what has been an exceptional first campaign in the EFL and a history making FA Cup run.        

With loan players Danny Imray, Cameron Congreve, Adam Mayor and Kamarl Grant all set return to their parent clubs at the end of the campaign and some other contacts coming to an end, Andy Woodman will have a busy summer ahead, assembling a squad ready for 2025/26.

The speculation is that veteran captain Byron Webster will be taking up more of a coaching role next season, so this may also open up a vacancy for a centre back to come in alongside Deji Elerewe and Omar Sowunmi, while at full back the hope will be that Carl Jenkinson can stay fit and there will need to be additions with Grant & Mayor going back to Millwall. Caleb Folan has been out on loan for most of the season and may come back into contention.     

The constrains of FFP rules will also come into play with the club’s income affected by the reduced capacity at Hayes Lane since February, meaning less income and less money to spend on wages and signings.

Woodman will once again have to use the loan market well to strengthen his squad and compete in League Two. Adding midfielder Ben Thompson on a permanent deal in January was a shrewd move as the club used their money from the FA Cup run, along with Brooklyn Ilunga & Harry McKirdy who have added energy out wide.

Hopefully striker Nicke Kabamba will benefit for a pre-season with Bromley, joining a club that has Michael Cheek up front and only plays with one striker was always going to be a tough gig, but two goals in his last two games show real signs of promise. 

It will be interesting to see which players from the squad are let go to free up budget space, among the forwards Olufela Olomola who hadn’t featured since the Christmas period has already departed, Marcus Dinanga has been injured virtually all season and Louis Dennis (despite Andy Woodman hailing him as the best player at the club) hadn’t had many minutes in 2025 and has also said his goodbyes, while on a more positive note Soul Kader has been in great form in his loan spell at Cray Wanderers and will be aiming to get back into squad contention for the new campaign after a subs appearance against Cheltenham Town.        

In the midfield Andy will need to replace Cameron Congreve who returns to Swansea City and it will be interesting to see what happens with Lewis Leigh who has been out on loan at Halifax Town since January, having not reached the same level he did in his loan spell from Preston in the first half of the previous season.

Jude Arthurs and Thompson will certainly require additional help and hopefully Corey Whitely will extend his stay. The tried and tested Whitely/Cheek combo has continued to provide vital goals for Bromley again.         

Getting keeper Grant Smith signed up on a new contract in January was fantastic business and Sam Long has proved more than capable when called on to deputise. Andy Woodman was happy to say that Smith was the best Keeper in League Two after some match winning performances this season.   

The core of a good squad is already there ready to go next season, hopefully if Andy Woodman can continue to recruit and bring in loans in the same way he has in previous campaigns The Ravens will be set for a positive 2025/26.

Pictures supplied by Ed Boyden Photos.